NIST's Findings On The World Trade Center Fire and Collapse

NIST's Findings On The World Trade Center Fire and Collapse

NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition Las Vegas, NV June 8, 2005

S. Shyam Sunder & William L. Grosshandler

Building and Fire Research Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

National Context

? The collapse of the World Trade Center structures following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 was one of the worst-ever building disasters in recorded history ? killing 2749 people.

? More than 400 fire and emergency responders were among those killed, the largest loss of life for this group in a single incident.

? Strong private sector, public, and Congressional demand for a comprehensive response to the World Trade Center disaster.

? Congress passed and the President signed into law on October 1, 2002, the National Construction Safety Team (NCST) Act. ? Gives NIST authorities to investigate building failures. ? Modeled after the NTSB, with some differences.

NCST Advisory Committee

z Appointed by the NIST Director.

z Functions... ? Review procedures and reports ? Evaluate activities of teams ? Assess implementation of recommendations ? Annual report to Congress

z Reviewed WTC Investigation plan, progress, findings, draft recommendations at 6 meetings.

Members

Dr. Charles Thornton, Co-Chairman, Thornton-Tomasetti.

Dr. Robert Hanson, Professor Emeritus, University of Michigan.

Mr. Philip DiNenno, President, Hughes Associates.

Professor Glenn Corbett, John-Jay College, NYC.

Dr. Kathleen Tierney, University of Colorado, Boulder.

Mr. Paul Fitzgerald, FM Global, (ret.)

Mr. David Collins, The Preview Group.

z Reviewed all WTC progress & final reports

Professor Forman Williams, University of California at San Diego.

z Membership balances broad scope of disciplines and interests

Dr. John Barsom, President, Barsom Consulting.

BPAT Recommendations

WWTTCC IInnvveessttiiggaattiioonn

WTC Response Plan

Govt. Industry Professional Academic Inputs/Actions

Public Inputs/ Efforts

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Guidance and Tools for Improved Practices

Owners, Contractors, Designers, Emergency Responders and Regulatory Authorities

Technical Basis for Improved Building and Fire Codes and Standards

Standards and Code Development Organizations

NIST WTC Investigation Objectives

? Determine: ? why and how the WTC Towers collapsed following the initial impact of the aircraft, and ? why and how the 47-story WTC 7 collapsed

? Determine why the numbers of injuries and fatalities were so low or high depending on location, including technical aspects of fire protection, occupant behavior, evacuation, and emergency response

? Determine the procedures and practices that were used in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the WTC buildings

? Identify, as specifically as possible, areas in current national building and fire model codes, standards, and practices that warrant revision

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